ITF

at our Na onal JTI Coordinator Global Workshop to support them in their work. They were also invited to learn more about grassroots tennis development through our ITF Par cipa on Webinar, World Par cipa on Conference and World Coaches Conference (see below). Tennis accessible for all In 2022, we will recommence the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Development Fund programmes and clinics, financed and supported by the Cruyff Founda on, a grassroots ini a ve which aims to introduce wheelchair tennis to new players in new countries. ITF World Tennis Number The ITF World Tennis Number (WTN), launched in 2018, is a universal, level-based tennis ra ng, crea ng increased playing opportuni es by enabling more players of all ages to play against people of similar levels. Since its crea on, 139 Na onal Associa ons have signed up, with many more in the pipeline, crea ng a poten al reach of 75 million players. An ITF WTN ra ng has been assigned to over 1.2 million players worldwide so far, a figure that is expected to rise to four million players by the end of 2022. (See page 22 for more about the WTN). ITF World Par cipa on Conference The 2021 ITF World Par cipa on Conference was held virtually with 466 registered a endees (up 116% from the previous event in 2019) and 142 Na onal Associa on representa ves (up 103% from 2019). The event featured 33 speakers across 11 sessions, including: former world No. 1 Mar na Hingis, Great Britain's former Billie Jean King Cup captain Judy Murray, and IOC Director of Olympic Solidarity and Na onal Olympic Commi ee Rela ons James Macleod. The conference is a forum for ideas and inspira on for how people and organisa ons can increase par cipa on in tennis. ITF Global Tennis Report The ITF published the ITF Global Tennis Report in 2021, which examined trends in the tennis- playing popula on and landscape and assessed the impact of the pandemic on worldwide par cipa on. The latest report was an important and mely update to the inaugural edi on of the ITF Global Tennis Report in 2019, which established for the first me a worldwide picture of tennis par cipa on and performance. Comparisons to the 2019 report present a posi ve outlook for tennis despite the challenges of Covid-19, demonstra ng that tennis par cipa on con nues to rise. Our ambi on is to gain insight into the changes to the global tennis scene over me, surveying na ons regularly to track progress. We will publish an updated report in every Olympic year, with the next one due in 2024. Using technology to increase par cipa on We want to con nue to help as many people around the world, no ma er what their age or background, to reap the fun and healthy rewards of being involved in tennis. We're making it easier for more adults to play tennis by providing a new ITF Tennis Xpress+ course, plus associated resources for Na onal Associa ons, their coaches and teachers. We created Tennis Xpress in 2013 with the goal of a rac ng and retaining more adult players, using modified equipment to introduce them to the sport. We also plan to launch a new 'Tennis Fes vals' app in 2022, with na ons encouraged to use the tool as a method for recording new entrants and returning players. The app has been designed to create a welcoming, affordable, and inclusive 'first me to tennis' experience for all. Key findings from the ITF Global Tennis Report 2021 More than million people across the world play tennis 87 4.5% since the 2019 report an increase of TOTAL PLAYERS WORLDWIDE 59% male 41% female had a player with a professional ranking 113 na ons 148 na ons junior players from held an ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors ranking showcasing the huge spread of na ons represented in the elite game of the world's Data collected from surveyed na ons 41 90 players, coaches, clubs and courts represen ng over % 2021 ITF Annual Review 15

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